On Thursday night, the Foo Fighters performed their first of two headline shows at Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium, marking their return to a UK stadium stage for the first time since 2024. The performance took place amid an intense June heatwave and was attended by approximately 40,000 fans.
Frontman Dave Grohl opened the concert with “All My Life,” launching into the show energetically despite the soaring temperatures. This marked the band’s first headline appearance in Liverpool since 1997. Over the past three summers, Anfield has attracted several major American artists, including Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift, and Lana Del Rey—although the choice of venue is believed to stem more from renovations at Manchester’s Etihad Stadium than as a tribute to Liverpool’s musical roots.
Grohl’s presence on stage came amid personal controversy following revelations in September 2024 of an extramarital affair resulting in the birth of his fourth child. Prior to this, the Foo Fighters had stepped back from live touring for several years. Thursday’s show appeared to be a deliberate effort to reconnect with fans, featuring a robust set list built around some of the band’s most iconic stadium anthems. Songs such as “The Pretender,” “Times Like These,” “My Hero,” “These Days,” “Learn to Fly,” and “Walk” filled the first hour with an intensity and crowd engagement that echoed the band’s storied stadium-rock legacy.
However, the concert extended well beyond this initial segment, stretching to nearly three hours in total. Following their early set of well-known hits, the band diverged into a prolonged mid-set section that featured solo performances by each member covering tracks from their previous bands. This segment, reportedly lasting close to an hour, was met with mixed reactions due to its departure from the band’s current material and pacing.
After this interlude, the Foo Fighters returned to their collective performance with renewed vigor, delivering extended renditions of fan favorites such as “Monkey Wrench” and “Best of You.” A highlight was the performance of “Aurora,” a song cherished by late drummer Taylor Hawkins and now a mainstay of the group’s live shows.
One notable moment involved a young fan being brought onstage to play drums after successfully solving a Rubik’s Cube in front of the crowd. The teenager was later identified as the boyfriend of Grohl’s daughter Harper, and the interaction coincided with his birthday. This personal gesture underscored Grohl’s efforts to publicly reconcile certain aspects of his private life amid ongoing scrutiny.
The show’s blend of high-energy classics and extended personal showcases drew a contrasting response, suggesting some fans may prefer a more concise set focused on the band’s strongest material. Nonetheless, the Foo Fighters’ return to the stadium stage was marked by both ambitious performance and a palpable desire to reconnect after a challenging period for the band.